Mouth-piece for bags



(No Model.)

P. 0. SOPER.

MOUTH PIECE FOR BAGS.

N0.V392,236. Parzsnted NOV. 6, 1888.

wi/twaom aw aaa/id N. PETERS. Pholo-Uthagnphqn Walhington. uc.

UNITED. STATES PATENT @FFICE.

PHILO O. SOPER, OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO JAMES STEEL, JR, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MOUTH-PIECE FOR BAGS.

' BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,236, datedNovember 6, 1888.

Application filed July 11, 1888. Serial No. 279,626. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Palm 0. SoPER, of the city and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Mouth-Piece for Bags, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a mouth-piece for clothbagsespecially for small tobacco-bags, though it may be used with bagsof any size and for any purpose-that may be readily secured in place bymeans of the usual string threaded in the gathered mouth of the bag, orby any other suitable means, that is so constructed as to be retained inplace by reason of its own shape, and that is so designed that inopening it the encircling cord and bag-mouth are stretched but little,and yet the mouth-piece when opened presents a large throat or passagefor filling or discharging the contents of the bag.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the mouth-piecethat it projects but slightly beyond the mouth of the bag and does notmaterially encumber it or render itinconvenient to be carried in thepocket by a smoker,

\ and yet when thrown openapassage of ample capacity is provided for theready discharge of the tobacco or other contents.

For convenience I provide the device with a spring which retains it inthe open position, but automatically closes it when a slight mo tionsufficient to throw the strain of the spring above the hinge or pivot isimparted to it by hand; This device is, so far as I am aware, new inconstruction and general operatiomand I do not therefore limit myself tothe specific details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

I have here illustrated the invention embodied in one form which Iconsider the most practical now known to me; but obviously clasp forclosing the mouth-piece when a springis not employed.

The mouth-piece is composed of two like sections, A B, formed each withthree sides, two sidesprcfcrably the narrower ones, a a orb bbeing ofequal width and at right angles to the third side, a or b, and the sidesa b are hinged upon each other at c. In other words, each section incross section preferably presents a rectangle with one of the sidesremoved. The hingc-eouneetions between the sides a and I) of therespective sections are located on lines drawn at right angles from theother sides, a b, at points about equidistant be tween their ends. Thesides a b are cutaway on an angle or bevel just below the hinges, asshown at z. Oonscquentl y when closed the mouth-piece, as shown in Fig.1, presents the approximate form of an isosceles triangle, the width ofthe side pieces, a I), being such that the distance from the hinge c tothe apex and faces of the triangle are about the same. At points aboutmidway of the lengths of the sides a Z), but preferably slightly belowlines perpendicular to said sides and running to the hinge, fingers orlips d are formed. These may serve to hold a spring, 0, for closing themouthpiece. The strain of the spring when the mouth-piece is forced openis somewhat below the hinge c, Fig. 2, and consequently italso serves tohold the mouth-piece open. If the spring were located higher up it wouldalways tend to close the sections. Stops f, formed on the sides a or bof one of the sections, serve to limit the opening of the mouth-piece tosuch a point that when open the sides a I) still incline from the bottominwardly, as shown in Fig. 2.

The mouth-piece thus constructed-prcferably of sheet metal-may be madeof any de sired size and used for any purpose. It is preferably securedin place by tying the mouth of the bag under the fingers cl, which areprovided specially for that purpose.

The pyramidal shape of the mouth-piece, whether closed or open, tends toprevent its withdrawal from the bag.

Since the edge of the bag-mouth is in a line but slightly above thehinge'c, those portions of the mouthpiece supporting the bag move inopening through but a short vertical are,

and consequently the month of the bag is stretched but little. There isalways sufficient elasticity in the cord to permit this movement, andthe expansion is so slight as not to impair or materially loosen theconnection between the bag and mouth-piece.

The construction above described is such that while the motion at theedge or mouth of the bag is small the throat of the mouth-piece presentsa large opening, as may readily be observed from the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 5, I might dispense with the spring and employ theordinary doubleball clasp x. I prefer, however, to use a spring and touse it in the manner shown, so that the mouth-piece will stand open, asin Fig. 2.

The parts of this device may be struck out of sheet metal at a verysmall expense. The mouth-piece may be sold separately or may befurnished by dealers with bag-packages of tobacco, &e. \Vhen attached toan ordinary bag of tobacco it will preferably be applied, as in Fig. 4-,so as to open at right angles to the greater width of the bag.

I claim as my invention- 1. A mouth-piece formed of like sections a a aand b I) I), hinged together and having the sides a b beveled at a, asshown and described.

2. A bag mouth-piece formed of like sections a a a and b b I), hingedupon each other at c, and having a stop, f, the hinges being located inlines drawn at right angles to the sides a b, from points equidistantbetween their ends, and the sides a I) being beveled at c, substantiallyas shown and described.

3. The combination, with the spring, ofthe like sections a a a and 2)?)b, hinged upon each other, beveled at z, and having a stop, f,substantiall y as set forth.

4. The combination of the like sections a a a and b b b, hinged togetherat c by their sides a Z), and having the lips or fingers d,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the sections having sides a b at right angles tothe sides a b, and hinged or pivoted together at c, the distances fromthe hinge to each side a or b, measured on a line at right angles tosaid sides,being approximately equal to the distance from the hinge tothe upper edges of said sides.

6. The sections having each three sides, a a or b b, and a or b, thesides a I) being hinged upon each other at c, and beveled atz, as shown,and the distance from the hinge to the sides a b, measured on a line atright angles to said sides,beingapproximatelyequal to the distance fromthe hinge to the edges of said sides, in combination with bag-retainingfingers or devices located at about midway of the length of the sides aI).

7. The combination, with abag, of a mouthpiece formed of like sectionshinged upon each other, and of general triangular shape having itslarger end within the bag, and the bag secured thereto on a lineslightlyabove the hinge, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

II-IILO O. SO'PER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD C. Diwroson, Jiuins STEEL, Jr.

